Hidden Falls

"Hidden Falls" - 18" x 30 - Watercolor.

So I finally updated my website:
www.michaeldavidsorensen.com

I also managed to finally get my Facebook art page up here .

The Explorers

The Explorers 22"x30" Watercolor

I've been updating my art website. You can see a bunch of new originals that I put on my website here.

Fall Colors

Fall Color 15"x22" Watercolor.

Upcoming Painting Demonstration and Show:

Vancouver, WA - November 20, 2010. 11am to 5pm at Heritage Gallery. heritagefineart.com/
16020 SE Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA. 360-576-7558.
I will be doing a painting demonstration and chatting with people all day. Stop by and say hi.

Show Off

I've been having fun trying some T-Shirt style art lately. With T-Shirt art you are limited to only a few colors and you cannot mix those colors unless you use half-tones (the process that newspapers use by putting little dots of different colors next to each other to simulate a mixed color). You also have to really simplify a design in order for it to work on a shirt. As I tend to be overly detailed it has been fun trying to simplify my designs and compositions.

"Show Off" is one of my first tries at the art of T-Shirt design. I plan to submit this (and the other designs I come up with) to Threadless.com. It is a T-Shirt printing company that allows anyone to compete with their designs to have them printed. Their is also a good online community of other artists who will critique your designs. Here is the link to my Threadless page: Here

A Rag Top Bug in Wine Country

15 x 20 inches - Watercolor and watercolor crayon on 300lb. Arches watercolor paper.

A 23 Window VW Bus at Rest

15" x 20" Watercolor (In progress)

When driving through rural America I notice that the coolest cars (and vans in this case) are always parked out in a field behind a barn or under a tree and have obviously been there a while. After driving a vehicle for upwards of 20 or 30 years any car needs a certain amount of attention and maintenance. Most guys just don't have the heart to get rid of a classic if they don't have the time or inclination to do the required work to make it run and look like a true classic should. And so out to the back field, behind the barn or under the tree the once beautiful piece of art on wheels goes to take up residence for the next decade or two until its owner gets around to giving the beloved automobile the attention it deserves.

Every now and again some other guy will catch a glimpse of this once glorious ride in its current state of neglect, sitting under a tree, and long to have it for his own. Sure it is now rather dirty, somewhat rusty and over-grown by weeds. Three of the windows have been broken by young boys practicing their fastball with rocks and the sheet metal under the battery has rusted through to the point that the battery is now sitting on the ground, yet this guy still sees the potential of restoring this car to its original form. The current owner, however, still dreams of one day restoring it himself and turns down any offer of selling it. And so the classic remains under the tree for the next decade, an unattainable prize of rusting metal of rotting seat cushions to all passerbys.

Watching the Surf and Seagulls

"Pacific Tides" 28" x 40" - Watercolor.

I did and painting demonstration at Champagne Cove in La Conner, Washington last weekend and as always had a great time (it was 65 degrees and sunny on Saturday so it was pretty hard not to have a great time). Pacific Tides is the largest watercolor I've completed so far and the original (it is unpublished so there are no prints) is now on display at Champagne Cove.

I also go to do some camping while I was up in La Conner. Camping this time of year is the best because not only did I get a camp spot at Deception Pass on a Saturday night without reservations (Which I've heard is Washington state's busiest campground), but I also got the state park campground near Gig Harbor almost completely to myself. That campground has to be about the creepiest campground I've been to. I always get there way late at night night when it's dark and foggy, it's always deserted, it's way out in the boonies, is situated in the midst of a dense rain forest with towering trees and thick underbrush and invariably all sorts of wild creatures decide to start howling/growling/hooting/barking loudly in the middle of the night. (it's the kind of place that you would expect to see Bigfoot) This time some owls decided to get in a brawl directly above my tent at about 1am and did some hooting at the top of their lungs (they can be pretty loud). Overall I thoroughly enjoy the creepy camping experience. :-)

Silver Falls

"Silver Falls" 15" x 22" Watercolor

I actually started this painting a few years back, but just recently decided to work on it again. It is now finished, framed and will be on it's way to Champagne Cove in La Conner, Washington soon.

I believe this is Lower North Falls at Silver Falls State Park near Silverton, Oregon.

"Distant Waterfalls Far from the Land of Email and Offices"

I did a painting demonstration in a Portland Wine shop last Friday night. I needed something to paint while I was there so I found this painting that I started a few years back to work on. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to do any wine drinking, but I did have a good time finishing this painting and chatting with the folks there for a wine tasting (it was a busy place on a Friday night!).



Also I'm moving my website to a different web hosting company this week, so it should be unavailable and off line for the rest of the week.

The Oregon Coast

Where Land and Sea Meet - 15" x 22" Watercolor

I'm working on some more Oregon Coast paintings at the moment. Here is the first of them. (More to come)

Winter Dreams of Summer Time Camping

An 80's vintage Volkswagen Vanagon at Trillium Lake with Mount Hood in the background - Computer illustration.

I can't wait for some good old fashioned nice camping weather. Sure I'm a true Northwesterner and will camp in high winds and sideways rain with a smile on my face, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't like some nice camping weather now and again. Especially since it's been raining for a good 4 months straight, it seems like we're due for some sun.

First Light at Mount Rainier

22" x 30" Watercolor -

I've been wanting to paint this scene since I saw a great sunrise over Mount Rainier when I was up near Gig Harbor, Washington. The body of water is an inlet of Puget Sound.

Christmas Bug

This is the Christmas card I made this year (although I'm a tad late at posting it here). It's a computer illustration (drawn with a mouse of course).

I know what you are all thinking: "Those bugs don't have very good heaters! The hearty souls driving the classy little Bug must be either freezing or wearing a lot of clothes!"

I'll have you know that old-style VW drivers are resourceful folk! Heck, I used to have a cigarette-lighter-powered electric blanket in my VW bus, not to mention a wide assortment or gloves, stocking caps, blankets and fuzzy animal slippers that I kept in the closet (including matching pink garb for any females brave enough to ride around in the V-Dub during the height of winter).

Fish 'n Chips

"Fish 'n Chips" 11" x 15" watercolor-

In my series of paintings on the life and times of Seagulls, this is my new favorite. I finished this painting while doing a painting demonstration at Haystack Gallery in Cannon Beach, Oregon. The couple that bought the painting were watching me work on it and gave some "ideas" of how to finish the painting and give it some more "realism" (specifically to the deck railing directly below the seagulls). :-)

Falls in the Fall

15 x 22 inch watercolor -

I got a chance to do a painting demonstration last weekend at Heritage Gallery here in Vancouver. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to meet everyone that came by. There really was a fun group of people there last weekend. And thanks to Dann at Heritage Gallery for having me.

This weekend in Cannon Beach, Oregon is the Stormy Weather Arts Festival, which is always a great time. I will be painting in Haystack gallery during the day this Saturday, so make sure to stop by and say hi.

We may end up with a milder Stormy Weather Arts Festival than last year by the looks of the weather, but whether it's raining sideways or sunny and 65 degrees the festival is always quite entertaining.

Sailing in the Puget Sound

"Called in 'Sick of Work' and Went Sailing in the Puget Sound"
30 x 36 inches- Watercolor

[Note: the colors are a bit off on this photo. I'll post another photo of this painting with more accurate color adjustments when I finish the piece).

I'm working on painting larger pieces at the moment, this one is about three feet long and I've got another painting going that's 41 inches long. I actually like painting large, but I apparently need to invest in bigger brushes and a bigger easel before I do too many more large paintings.

This painting is about 80% done as you see it here. I'm currently deciding whether I want to add a few houses among the cliffs before I finish the background and the water.

Another Day at the Oregon Coast

"A Day in the Life of the Oregon Coast" - Watercolor

I've been busy adjusting my website so I haven't had a chance to blog much lately, but you can check out my website at: www.michaeldavidsorensen.com

I'm working on finishing up this Oregon Coast cartoon. I've pretty much had a blast working on it.

Have a great week!

Bike Riding and Dreams of Amazingly Good Donuts

"Exercising to Counteract the Ill Effects of Custard-Filled Donuts" - Sketch

I went rollerblading down at Portland's Willamette Waterfront a few nights ago and did some sketching while I was at it. The paths there are chalk full of people riding bicycles, walking, running, rollerblading, skate boarding or scooter-riding.

An interesting bunch of people gather there to perform their exercise of choice and its fun to observe the different types of characters you find there. Some are obvious fitness junkies who eat, sleep and dream exercise. Then there are characters who I can relate with like this fellow that I sketched. He appears to be there merely to burn the exact amount of calories that one will find in two chocolate, custard-filled donuts and a chocolate milk. And you know he's figured out precisely how much further he needs to ride in order to burn the calories in an extra tall chocolate milk.

A Dog and His Kid

"A Dog and His Kid" 11 x 15 inches - Watercolor

I've been busy working on making changes to my website lately so I haven't gotten a chance to do much blogging.

You all have a great weekend! Go do something fun outside!

Seagulls and Stovepipes

"Seagulls and Stovepipes"
11 x 15 inches - Watercolor

I painted this scene while doing a painting demonstration at Dancing Coyote Gallery in Depoe Bay, Oregon. I had been walking on the Lincoln City beach (at Roads End) and was noticing all of the cool chimneys that the beach-side houses sport. And of course while I was checking out the neat chimneys I was also noticing the many seagulls hanging out on the housetops (causing trouble no doubt).